The Irish standard., 1887-01-15

CHAPTER V.-(Continued. J
Author of "The Collegians," etc.

\~O~>No-'
II ask your pardon for disturbing
you, sir,' she said to Segur, "and !
would not have done 50 if I could have
helped it, but this youth" laying her
hand on the shoulder Of the poor scholar.
while she continued gazing on Segur-
"this youth knows my infrnaity. Will
you sleep again? The footsteps of a
mouse shall not disturb you. Sleep,
and I will sit on the threshold of your
door myself, and watch every stir and
motion about the honse till you wake. y
II thank you very much,'' said the
old man, a little touched by the earnest
ness OF her apology, "bnt there is no
occasion for so much care. l am used
10. hard beds and rough usage
enough, SO that eau promise myself
d very sound sleep ii were sure OF
hearing no more such music as thai
"rhey shall tear my heart out before
you hear murmer,' said the poor
NCAltAu. Do-tdnC JcO+ AS1S' oASSH
ssrd see ttis--see!" plucbine huge
wooden cloak from the back Of Mr..
Shine, dragging it impatient)y through
tho hands Of the latter, without seeming
to hestow q thought ON him as he made
"a slight effort to retain his property
tsSee! L will spread this oyer you when
you lie down, and I'll draw the little
dirnn1ity curtain between you and the
window, to keep the light from your
eyes--and I'll watch by your bedside if
you wish, and I'll not cry out again it
my heart was on ire"
t'NaY, nay, my Good woman, you are
perfectly welcome to act as you please
il you should be used so hardly as that;
but give Mr.. Shine his coat again. for I
don't want it.
"Eet him stand in his TAT garment Of
Aeeh, said the woman, with a tone OF
bitter contempt; ''let him sit there in
his own mountain OF gross substance,
built on his bones out CT lean fools.
The raw wind That pierces the marrow
OF the old man, might blustsr and chafe
upon that heated aud shaking lump Of
earth without doing any more harm
than warming and quiolxen1ng the red
currents within it, while yours We're
frozen and driven back upon your old
heart"
<'I desire, woman" said Segur, great
iy offended, ''thot you will do as you are
directed; and it will become you, unfor
ts1nate creavure, to obtain the forgive
ness Of that worthy man, for the pro-
fame inso]elce of which You have been
guilty.
in the instant and before the last
word had passed the lip OF tho speaker,
the cloak was replaced on the shoulders
of the bewildered Shine, while the
woman, with trembling and oficious
eagerness, fastened it about his neck,
clasped her hands, anil, sinking at his
feet, solicited his pardon with SO rapid and
affecting change Of tone and manner,
and such repentent vehenaence OF action
that the great cheeks Of the doctor (who
like most fat men had his proportion Of
good nature) shook with emotion, and
his eyes glistened with moisture, rs he
was about to pat her Oh 5he head, with
word of encouragement and forgiveness.
Ihe intention, however, was as much as
the penitent seemed to require, for she
instantly sprung TO her feet again, turned
her back OH the doctor, as it no such
person were il existence, and laying her
hand on the arm OF the old man, hurried
him into the parlor.
The preacher turned round, while his
eyes were still directed in amazeznent
toward the parlor to the thin faced lad
He found She latter, however, had been
much more proftably occupied than in
attending to the preceding scene. He
had slipped quietly into the preachers
chair ana busted himself with the ut
most eagerness in completing tho task
which the, other had left unfinished.
t'Eat, friend said the preacher, after
pausing and staring Oh the lad for few
moments, ''eat, and be filed. Let no
respect of persons abasb Or trouble you
il the performance Of needful duty"
There was little occasion for the ad-
vice. The lad did not even suspend his
operations to say word OF acknowledge
ment, but merely nodded, steadily re-
turned the stare Of the honest divine,
and made kind of soldler-like salute
with his knife, as he was about to plunge
it once more into the nut brown surface
Of the roti. in the side OF which he had
speedily effected an excavation that
attracted the admiration even of Shine
himself.
Both remained gazing on one another
in silence for few minutes, when a
third mute made his appearance on the
scene Mr.. Shines atten tion WAS first